Interchangeable tooth.



l. J. FINK.

INTERCHANGEABLE TOOTH.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 26. 1913.

' 1,163,074. Patented Dec. 7, 1915.

' and ISRAEL J. PINK, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

INTERGHANGEABLE TOOTH.

minnow.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 7, 11915.

Application led May 26, 1913. Serial No. 769,833.

being to provide a generally improved in-' terchangeable artificial tooth facing and metallic backing, the invention being particularly directed to improved means for connecting the artificial tooth facings to the metallic backings or the bridge-Work or other dental structure of which the metallic backing may form a part.

A further object is to provide an improved interlocking connection between the tooth facing and the metallic backing so that when the tooth facing is placed in position it will be positively held against vertical or lateral movement relative to the metallic backing or the dental structure of art.

A still further object is to provide an improved tooth facing and metallic backing of great strength and rigidity, and particularly a tooth facing which will not be weakened by the provision made for the attaching de vice or metallic backing and in which the tooth facing and backing are adapted to interlock and cooperate with each other in giving great strength and rigidity to the tooth structure as a whole.

A still further object is to provide a perfe'ct standardization of the tooth facing and backing adapted to meet the varying reuirements in dental work and at the same time provide a tooth facing which may be which such metallic backing may form a readily replaced 'or removed without removing or altering the metallic backing or the dental structure of which said metallic backing may form a part.

With the above-mentioned and other ends in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, illustrated in some of its embodiments in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1, is a side elea bicusjpid tooth facing constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2, a front elevation of the same. Fig. 3, a perspective view of the improved metallic backing for the same. Fig. 4, a perspective view of the inner side of an incisor tooth facing. Fig. 5,.a cross sectional view taken on line 55 of Fig. 4, the cooperating metallic backing being indicated in dotted lines. Fig. 6, a perspective view of the inner side of the metallic backing for an incisor tooth facing. Fig. 7 an enlarged cross sectional view of an incisortooth facing and backing as embodied or applied in bridge or crown work.

Similar numerals of reference designate like parts throughout all the figures of the drawings.

'lhc improved interchangeable tooth comprises a tooth facing 1, preferably of dental porcelain or some other suitable and convenient material, and a metallic backing 2, of

suitable material such as gold, platinum, or a suitable alloy such as platinoid, goldoid, or the like.

The improved tooth facing 1, is provided with a tapered dove-tailed rib or panel 1, said rib or member l,being centrally located and extending from one edge of the tooth facing and having its under-cut diverging sides 1", terminating in shoulders or abutments 1, which abutments 1, in an incisor tooth facing, are preferably also under-cut, as shown in Fig. 4, toabut against and interlock with similarly shaped shoulders of the metallic backing hereinafter described and of the general form shown in Fig. 6, of the drawings.

The metallicbacking 2, is adapted to be formed of a single strip or length of material of substantially uniform thickness throughout, and in its completed form is provided with a tapered dove-tailed groove or recess 2 and similar in shape to the securing rib or panel 1*, of the tooth facing so as to receive and interlock with the latter when the parts are assembled in proper position. The diverging inclined sides 2", of the groove or recess 2, not only interlock with the similarly shaped sides 1*, of the median rib or panel 1 of the tooth facing, but when set in crown or bridge-work as illustrated in Fig. 7, also interlock with the filling or bridge member 3. at the back or inner side as shown in said Fig. 7., of the drawings. The inclined diverging sides of the grooves or recess 2, of the metallic v backing terminate in inclined shoulders or abutments 2, adapted to take over and interlock with the similarly shaped shoulders or abutments 1, of an incisor tooth facing, and on the other hand, the metallic backing 2, for a bicuspid or posterior tooth facing, such as shown in Fig. 3, is adapted to have one edge abut against the shoulders or abutments 1, of the form of tooth facing shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it being obvious that by reason of the interlocking connections and the various cooperating shoulders or abutments that the tooth facing when placed in position will be positively and firmly held as against any vertical or-lateral movements, and at the same time, the tooth facings are not weakened by the interlocking connecting features of the same as in many other forms of interchangeable tooth facings now employed by the profession.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the functions and advantages of my invention will be readily understood.

Having thus described some of the embodiments of my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

1. An interchangeable tooth, comprising 1 a tooth facing provided with a tapered doveseparated undercut shoulders extending to the opposite edges of the tooth facing, and a metallic backing abutting against said shoulders and having a similarly shaped inset panel receiving and interlocking with said dove-tailed panel. 7

2. An interchangeable tooth, comprising a tooth facing provided with a median panel extending from one edge and having undercut diverging sides terminating in separate undercut shoulders extending flush with said panel and the rear side of said tooth facing, a sheet metal backing having an EX-'1 tension abutting against the latter and provided with a similarly shaped inset securing panel having similarly shaped undercut sides receiving and interlocking with the sides of said median panel, and a dental bridge structure at the rear of said backing interlocking with the undercut sides of said securing panel.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ISRAEL J. FINK.

Witnesses:

SAMUEL W. SILBERT, FRANK S. DAY. 

